Today we're going to learn how to work with multiple Master Pages.

Overview:

- Creating a second Master Page template

- Applying multiple Master Page templates

Tools used: Type tool, guides

If you're new to InDesign and you haven't taken a look at the Master Pages tutorial, I suggest you give that a go before continuing with this so that you don't end up pulling your hair out.

Okay, so if you've done the Master Pages tutorial, you've learned multiple things: how to create a template, and how to add page numbers to your document.

"So what do I do with this template and the number at the bottom of my page isn't a number. It's a letter."

Let's put that template to use and bring you one step closer to your dream of a complete document.



For quick reference, here's a list of all the steps in this tutorial with anchor links for quick scrolling:


Step 1 / Step 1a / Step 1b / Step 2 / Step 3 / Step 3a-1 / Step 3a-2 / Step 3a-3


Step 1: Top

• Let's start by renaming out current master.
• Right-click A-master
• Click the selection that you see highlighted in the screen shot below

Step 1a: Top

• For this tutorial, I'm going to change the name of my master to "Half Title", but you can use whatever you want
• You can also change prefix to whatever you want
• Ensure that [None] is selected for the "Based on Master" option
• Click "OK"

Step 1b: Top

• This is our A-Half Title Master. In my screenshot below, you can see that I've created guides so that I can place text later on when I begin to typeset.

Step 2: Top

• Wait a sec, books aren't composed completely of title pages. If they were, this tutorial would be finished and I'd be playing Call of Duty right now! That's definitely not the case...read on!
• We want to create a Recto page too, so let's get on that. Right click your "A-Half Title" page and a context menu will pop up. Select "New Master".
• Go to the next step.

Step 3: Top

• I've renamed this particular Master to "Recto."
• Feel free to change the prefix accordingly, or leave it as is.

Step 3a-1: Top

• I'm going to do something cool here! Have you ever noticed that with some books, the title is in the top right/left hand corner for all the recto/verso pages? Have you ever said, "Gee I wish I could do that when I take Prof. Allen's WRI420 Class!"? Today, you will do that. Read on!
• So, working with my B-Recto Master (you can see it's highlighted in black in the screenshot below. Make sure your Master is highlighted too by double-clicking on it. A black highlight should appear in the same way), you'll notice that I've laid out some nifty blue lines (also known as "Guides"). These blue lines will make things way easier for me and you.
• Next, select the Type tool (see highlighted on the left in the tool bar. It's the big capital T)

Step 3a-2: Top

• With the Type tool selected, your arrow cursor will change to a type cursor. Click and drag with the type cursor to define an area to type in.
• For me, the typing area was the rectangle created by the guides.
• When you've found an area that you're comfortable with, release your mouse button.
• Magic! You've created a text box. You should see a flashing cursor now. If you type, you'll be able to make a title just like I did.

Step 3a-3: Top

• I'm going to call this the "never ending tutorial" because it's so long. Anyway, we're still not done, but we're getting there...
• Since books aren't composed solely of Recto pages, we're also going to create a Verso Master. Repeat steps 2 through to 3a-2.
• We'll do the same thing with the Type tool (Step 3a-2) so that our title shows up on this Verso page too. The only thing we're changing is our guides and Text box positions. For this, the rulers at the top are handy in creating symmetrical pages that are clean
• Remember that you don't have to do things the way I'm doing them here. You can put your name at the top of the page. Or maybe the page number. Or pretty much anything you'd like. Also, feel free to shift the text box around as you see fit.

Step 4: Top

• This should have been done earlier, but my brain just reminded me now: don't forget to add page numbers to each of your Master Pages! Refer to Tutorial 1 for directions on how to do this.

Hooray! We're done. Remember to save your work! Top

Notes: The page size here is 8.5x11. I'm positive that your book will not be that massive in size unless you've maybe making a colouring book of some sort. Remember to size your page accordingly!